Seven Horses Removed from Petoskey Farm, Owner Accused of Cruelty

MICHIGAN -- Seven horses have been removed from an Emmet County farm and the owner of the horses has been charged with animal cruelty.

Today Brett Lauren Taylor of Boyne City was charged with animal cruelty in Emmet County.

Volunteers from Second Chance Ranch and Rescue worked with Emmet County Animal Control to get the seven horses from the Petoskey farm.

They have been brought to different locations to get vet care.

Executive Director of Second Chance Ranch and Rescue, Pamela Graves is currently taking care of three of the seven horses rescued from a farm in Petoskey.

"You can see their ribs, their hips, their back bones and their spines through them," said Graves. "First, all of them weren't getting adequate food to make muscle and they weren't getting adequate food to stay warm."

Graves says typically horses need to eat about 10 percent of their body weight per day when the weather gets cold.

"Most horses will probably only eat about a third of a bale," said Graves. "On a 75 pound bale of hay a day and between these horses within two days--- they ate three bales of hay and drank about 100 gallons of water."

 

If the animals were not getting that amount of food--- Graves says she doesn't know if the horses would have made it through the winter.

"Now, we're increasing their feed, so we're starting to add in some higher protein food and adding in some grain to try to get some more weight onto them," said Graves.

The Emmet County Sheriff's Office issued seven charges against Brett Taylor for animal cruelty. Taylor, of Boyne City, was arrested and posted bind.

Graves says depending on how the case plays out, she may be looking for permanent homes for the horses.

Information on proper care and feeding of horses can be found at Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. They also offer assistance with the hay bank. For details on the hay bank, click here or call 517-321-3683.

(9&10NEWS - Dec 1, 2014)